The Pond - membership benefits

WE FIND YOU WORK

For the most part creatives hate cold calling. That's why we do the selling for you. In fact you don't even have to answer general enquiries, since clients all go through a centralised booking system.

PERSONAL ONLINE PORTFOLIO AND PROFILE

Because our website generates thousands of hits every month, it's the perfect place to post your portfolio and profile, which we can update as often as you like for free.

FAST PAYMENTS

Chasing payment from clients can be one of the most frustrating jobs for a creative. It can also be risky if they haven't signed a contract first. Let us do the chasing for you and expect payment within 28 days.

PUBLICITY

When you join The Pond we issue press releases to various industry publications. We also email relevant clients on our database. And when you do great work we make sure people hear about it through our online newsletter.

TEAM OPTIONS

Perhaps you're a writer who only knows writers or a designer who only knows designers. We can introduce you to other Pond creatives when you need help on client projects of your own.

CAREER ADVICE & PLANNING

If you're new to the country, or freelancing for the first time, we can give you advice on current market rates, trends, how to best position your portfolio, and a number of other areas to help you make key decisions.

CREDIBILITY

The Pond has a good name across Asia/Pacific because we work hard to maintain creative standards and don't let just anyone join. We represent the best and uphold their personal brands in the market.

How does The Pond work?

We promote you through our website, email marketing and client presentations. Then when a client comes to us with a talent brief that matches your skills and experience, we call you. If you're happy to accept the brief we put you forward as one of only two recommendations. What's more, we will negotiate the best rate and structure for the role, set up any initial meetings with the client and cover off all the minor details such as confidentiality agreements.

Can anyone join?

Because we promote The Pond as a premium service, we can only represent the best creatives. This is one of the key differences between The Pond and most recruitment agencies. We basically look for creatives with a minimum of five years commercial experience.

Do you really 'understand' creativity and creative people?

Well, an art director and a copywriter founded the Pond. That should tell you a lot. We’re creatives who understand creative work and what makes creative people tick. So you don't have to worry about us not understanding your needs or putting you forward for the wrong briefs.

What can I earn?

Your potential earnings via The Pond depend on your availability, how proactive you are and the demand for your skill set. We typically find Pond creatives anywhere from $25,000 to $100,000 of work each year. When you join we’ll set a financial target then review how it went towards the end of your first year. To make sure our relationship is worth your while, we will only bring you on board if we believe we can find you a minimum amount of work each year.

Can I expect the same rate on every job?

Rates are based on a number of factors including how long you will be needed, how urgently the job needs to be done, and whether or not it requires any specialized skills. So when you join The Pond we'll work with you to create a flexible rate structure based on your expectations and current industry rates.

Does The Pond actively promote members?

We pour a lot of resources into an annual marketing and promotional plan that has included sponsorship of industry awards, client events, direct marketing campaigns, press releases and online web initiatives.

Is there a joining fee?

Yes, we have an annual membership fee that goes towards your own personal marketing plan when you join. This fee also covers any operational costs and the time we spend to get you positioned, promoted and in work quickly.

Can I join The Pond from anywhere?

Unfortunately not. At this moment in time we only represent creatives in New Zealand, Australia and Asia.

Do I have to sign anything?

Yes. We have a contract that covers all the small but important details, like liability and confidentiality. Trust us, it's always good to get these things down on paper so we all know where we stand.